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In a conversation with CNN-News18, India hockey team’s goalkeeper Krishan Pathak explained how the team bounced back after losing the first match against Gwermany in New Delhi.
Indian hockey team goalkeeper Krishan Pathak
Indian men’s hockey team appeared rejuvenated on Thursday when they returned to draw level with Germany in the two-match series at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The forwards were penetrative, the defenders rock-solid and the goalkeeper resembled an impenetrable wall in front of the Germans.
Germany weren’t at full strength for the series as only five of the 16 players who won silver in the Paris Olympics flew in for the bilateral series. A host of youngsters came in as replacements. However, there was no dip in quality as India found out after losing the series opener 0-2. Thursday was a different case though.
The game ended with India winning the contest emphatically with a scoreline of 5-3. India though lost the series in a shootout.
In a conversation with CNN-News18, goalkeeper Krishan Pathak explained how the team bounced back within the space of 24 hours.
“We discussed the mistakes that we committed in the first game, saw the video footage and analysed Germany. Today we played much better and with more energy. We didn’t give up despite conceding an early goal. We backed each other throughout the match and the understanding we had today, it reflected in our game,” Pathak after the game.
In the second half, India went all guns blazing to overcome a 0-1 deficit with four goals. Sukhjeet Singh (34th, 48th) levelled the score quickly in the third quarter and then India captain Harmanpreet Singh (42nd, 43rd) put the hosts in the lead, converting back-to-back penalty corners. Abhishek scored in the 45th minute with a solo strike, beating four German defenders to make it 4-1 while Sukhjeet extended the lead to 5-1, finishing a solo run past German custodian Jean Danneberg.
The half-time break worked in India’s favour as they returned to dominate the contest. Pathak said coach Craig Fulton tinkered with the structure and it did wonders.
“The discussion was simple. We were not able to implement our plan fully and committed a few mistakes in the first half. We spoke about that and decided to do what we couldn’t in the first couple of quarters. Our coach asked us to change our structure a bit. We did it and got the desired results in the second half,” Pathak said.
With each team winning once, the bilateral series winner was decided via a shootout that Germany won 3-1.
“Shootouts are always 50-50. Sometimes it goes in your favour, sometimes it doesn’t. We started well and made a few good saves. But somehow it slipped away from us,” Pathak said.
The Indian goalkeeper succeeded only twice in the shootout but each of the two saves left him pumped up which was evident in his signature walk resembling MMA fighter Conor McGregor. The reason was the electrifying atmosphere and the energetic crowd that had gathered behind the goalpost.
“It does boost your morale. The energy is different when you play in front of the home crowd. The atmosphere was lively. We enjoyed the crowd and even celebrated the first save during the shootout with my signature move,” he said.
Pathak says rectifying mistakes in a short span of time is the biggest positive of the series.
“The biggest positive for us is the way we came back after losing 0-2 in the first game on Wednesday. Facing a team like Germany and bouncing back so strongly was a big lesson in itself. We learned from our mistakes and responded pretty quickly,” Pathak concluded.